TAWAU: The Road Transport Department (RTD) is mulling plans to introduce a microchip-based enhanced driving licence in future for the convenience of all motorists, said Mohd Shuhaili Mohd Taufek, SabahRoad Transport Department director.

Shuhaili said it is a customer-oriented suggestion that had yet to be finalised as the department is still conducting studies on the matter taking into consideration the plan and design capability to include a variety of other functional applications for the microchip-based enhanced driving licence.

Other matters to be considered would be the resources needed and the mode of implementation prior to its launch.

It is envisaged that the microchip-based enhanced driving licence kiosks could be placed at certain identified locations such as banks and supermarkets where it could provide a variety of functional applications and services to motorists round the clock and thus, could be availed of at any time.

In effect, motorists could renew their microchip-based enhanced driving licence using the kiosks after normal office hours.

He disclosed this to the media after giving a talk on the Automated Enforcement System (AES) to the staff, driving instructors and government agencies at the Institute Memandu Cemerlang (IMC), Jalan Damai here yesterday morning.

IMC has attained an International Standards Organisation (ISO 9001:2008) certification in Malaysia recently and is recognised as a five-star driving institute in the East Coast of Sabah.

“AES cameras to detect speeding would soon be placed at 21 identified locations throughout Sabah where 11 of it would be installed at traffic lights junctions. It is being implemented in Sabah after West Malaysia.

“In addition 11 AES cameras would be installed at traffic lights junctions in Kota Kinabalu and seven AES cameras in Labuan. A signboard notifying the presence of AES cameras would be placed about two to three kilometers before the identified location where the AES camera would be placed. The public can lodge a complaint to the Road Transport Department if no any signal notification signboard is placed at the designated points,” Shuhaili pointed out.

According to him, the installation of the AES cameras would benefit the people through reduction in the number of accident and death as well as combating corruption. He urged the people not to be confused and think that the government is penalizing the people through this system when it actually could benefit the road users.

He hoped the people will show their commitment with the installation of the AES and continue to obey the stated traffic regulations.

Meanwhile, four plans (4Es) would be implemented for the attention of road users, which are Enforcement, Education, Environment and Engineering.

In the meantime, Shuhaili has assured all driving institutes throughout the State that they would be able to improve their services according to the current developments and the local situation. He hoped the driving institutes will update their renewable driving syllabus involving AES and Automatic drive modules. He understands the renewable driving syllabus is still being drafted now.

There have 21 driving institutes in Sabah and Labuan while another three are being set up in Pitas, Tuaran and Semporna making up a total of 24 driving institutes.

Shuhaili hoped every district would have a driving institute to provide convenience to the people.